Television

National

Daniel Dae Kim talks about 'The Hot Zone: Anthrax' and representation

4:30pm November 26, 2021

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with actor Daniel Dae Kim, about his role in National Geographic's The Hot Zone: Anthrax., in which an FBI agent sets out to find who is sending letters laced with anthrax.

Peter Jackson's Beatles docuseries adds nuance and revelations to well-known stories

4:30pm November 26, 2021

by Eric Deggans

Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson sifted through over 60 hours of footage to create a docuseries called The Beatles: Get Back, dropping on Disney+ in installments over three days.

Music & Culture

New docuseries gives fans unprecedented access to The Beatles

5:01am November 26, 2021

by Ann Powers

NPR Music critic Ann Powers reviews a new docuseries called "The Beatles: Get Back". It centers around hours of unseen footage of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

Encore: 50 years ago, 'The Electric Company' used comedy to help kids' reading skills

4:19pm November 25, 2021

by Elizabeth Blair

50 years ago, The Electric Company premiered its first broadcast. The public broadcasting show aimed to use sketch comedy and animated shorts to teach kids to read.

Steven Van Zandt [left], James Gandolfini and Tony Sirico starred in HBO's hit television series, The Sopranos.

Books

HBO revolutionized TV, but the next few years are tipped to be pivotal for its future

7:30pm November 24, 2021

by Eric Deggans

Journalist James Andrew Miller and NPR TV critic Eric Deggans talk about how HBO changed television and why the next few years are pivotal for the network's future.

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A community member posts flyers for Amaria Hall.

HBO's 'Black and Missing' offers an antidote to Missing White Woman Syndrome

5:22pm November 24, 2021

by Eric Deggans

The docuseries follows the work of the Black and Missing Foundation, which steps in to search for missing people of color when media and law enforcement fall short.

Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang in Love Hard.

Arts

The 2021 holiday movie guide: 100+ new films to get you in the spirit

2:01pm November 24, 2021

by Linda Holmes

Every year, there are more and more holiday movies, many of which revisit the same beloved (?) tropes again and again. We take a thorough look at this year's crop.

There's plenty to watch this Thanksgiving holiday weekend

5:58am November 24, 2021

Our Pop Culture Happy Hour team shares their TV and movie recommendations for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Books

A new book details the rise of Home Box Office since the channel debuted in 1972

4:45pm November 23, 2021

by Eric Deggans

James Andrew Miller's new book, Tinderbox, tells the history of HBO starting with its 1972 debut. HBO succeeded as a cable channel revolutionizing TV by airing programs most outlets wouldn't touch.

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(L-R): Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) and Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) aim to please in Marvel's Hawkeye.

Arts

In 'Hawkeye,' an also-ran Avenger becomes a mentor — eventually

12:01pm November 23, 2021

by Glen Weldon

The series strains to find reasons for Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) to join forces with young Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), but once it does, they make a good pair.